Weekly Letter August 28 2022 - Theme Aunts and Uncles

Dear Family: Last week’s get together in honor of Danny and his family was so much fun. Afterwards I started thinking about being Danny’s aunt. Then I started thinking about all the years of family functions that involved aunts, uncles and cousins. My siblings and I didn’t live near our relatives. I’ve come to realize that that those relationships are nourishing, valuable and sustaining. Mom and Dad did make sure that we did visit with them whenever we had the opportunity; dad’s siblings and their families, and mom’s half-sisters and their families. When I decided to make “Aunts and Uncles” the theme of today’s letter, tons of thoughts and memories flooded my mind. This last week, I visited with Riley while she was visiting her Dad, Sheri, Taylor, Kelsy and kiddos this week while they are in Spokane for Carter’s talk prior to going on his mission. This photo is Riley's little Cole and cousin McKay Schnell giving him a ride while they were all together.

Riley and I talked about how much she missed family and now validating and nurturing it is to be around family. Riley and her siblings have had lots of interactions with relatives but one that comes to my mind involved her great Aunt Judy. Brad’s family joined in on the Christmas Eve tradition that Don and Judy hosted that year. Brad’s kiddos were all decked out in the appropriate costumes and Judy kept calling Riley her “Angel Baby.” I’ll never forget that. (Angel Baby is in Brad's arms)

Another memory is when Amy and her brothers had the privilege of helping me in my role as Aunt Suzanne. Glennda had just given birth to Michael and she had complications. So we swooped in and took care of Jenna as a little girl and Michael as a newborn for a week or two.

One more memory – Uncle Don and Rich took Brad and Brian camping shortly after Amy was born. That trip was late getting started, so Don entertained two little boys with his “Adventures to the Land of…the famous Scientist and Forester”. That’s where the stories about “Adventures to the Land of …….got its start. I could go on for pages about all the Christmas Eve Pageants and all the great food, music, talent shows, stories, piñatas and nativity scenes. But I think that’s where my children and my sister’s children grew to love their aunts and uncles and of course their cousins.

At Judy’s celebration of life, almost all the cousins where there and what a salute to their Aunt Judy! (L - R Ben Lloyd, Mike, Andy, Wade & Jenna Field, Zack & Charlie Short, Danny & Chris Lloyd, Brad, Brian & Amy Schnell)

Now to more modern times….I’ve loved to listen to my grandchildren talk about their relationship with their Aunt Amy. It’s easy to tell that Amy has worked hard to show her love to them and in return they adore her. I’ll never forget Amy telling me about flying Marissa to Seattle so she could walk in to the concert that Amy, Mike, Brian & Megan went to, and surprise her parents. I’ve loved to hear Brian and Megan talk about hosting their nieces and nephews when they come to Utah for one reason or another. Now to the other side of the family! Prior to 1980’s the church had Sunday School in the Morning and Sacrament meeting in the evening. This started in the early days of the church because most of the members lived on farms and they had to milk the cows morning and evening. Sunday school was about 10:30 and Sacrament meeting was about 7:30 so accommodate chores. Then after the church started the 3 hour block (it seems to me that happened somewhere around when Mt St Helens blew???) The Rich Schnell family and the Bill Schnell family decided to have “Fast Sunday Dinners” together monthly after Sacrament Meeting on Fast Sunday. This started a wonderful way for cousins and aunts and uncles to bond. We even went to Disneyland together as two families.

Then things happened where my sister in law and nieces and nephew were not allowed to talk to me. The cousins grew up, got married, moved away and the fast Sunday tradition stopped. Now 30 years later, I’ve been able to renew my relationship and friendship with Aunt Sally and my niece Haley. This all started with a sweet loving message sent to me by my nephew Rob. It’s kind of hard to describe the joy that this has brought to our lives. Sally is now in a memory care home and I have lots of interaction with my niece Haley. Joy. This photo is from Sally's 81st birthday party that Haley planned.

One of the joys in my life has been to watch my children and my nieces and nephews love each other, respect each other, care about each other and when they get together it is a truly amazing experience. I need to mention one thing. When my precious sister Judy passed away, Danny flew here from Nigeria. He had quite a time getting here and returning because it was during the pandemic and travel was precarious. Prior to Danny returning home, he bought Glennda and I a little note pad for each of us and accompanied it with a card. At the bottom of the card he said, “Don’t forget me.” I will never ever forget Danny. I’ve enjoyed all the posts that have been on FB while he and his family have been visiting. The Pacific Northwest is a beautiful place (even though it’s been too hot lately) and I’m glad they have been able to visit so much of it. Every night I take time to remember all my family, my children, my grandchildren, my great grandchildren, my siblings and their spouse & their families, my nieces and nephews, my Sister Judy, her family, my parents and ancestors. We have a marvelous family and my life is full because of all of you. I love each of you so much and I think of you daily. Love Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Sister, Aunt Suzanne